RM bidders drop $24 million at Amelia Island

Phil Skinner and Bill Samuelson reporting

What has become quite possibly the second-most-prestigious concours — behind only Pebble Beach in California — Florida’s Amelia Island event has grown to attract the top collectors from around the United States and indeed, around the world. Growing with this event almost from the start has been RM Auctions, which has presented an assortment of collector vehicles for vintage vehicle fans to bid on. For Amelia Island’s 2011 edition, it appeared that virtually no one walked away disappointed.

A catalog of 98 cars along with five motorcycles were presented on March 12, inside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel’s main ballroom. The room was packed with bidders, spectators and even a few of RM’s auction competitors who all marveled at the results. When the gavel dropped for the final time, 96 of the 103 lots had gone to new owners for a handsome sum of $21,951,500 in hammer sales. On top of this was the 10 percent buyer’s commission, which brought the sale’s total to $24,146,650, quite a bit ahead of RM’s 2010 total at this event.

This 1952 Ferrari 340 “Mexico” Vignale coupe sold for $3,900,000 at the
RM Amelia Island auction. (Phil Skinner photo)

Taking the top-sale honors was an important 1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico coupe that had been a factory competition car with history of the Pan-Americana plus the Mille Miglia. Bidding interest was strong both in the room and from the bank of phone bidders. In just a few minutes the bidding had hit $3,900,000, before the hammer dropped. Another interesting Ferrari was a 1953 212 Inter Vignale coupe that had been parked in a garage in the early 1970s after the owner began to “restore” it, gave up and walked away from the car. This unique coupe sold for $600,000, leaving its new owner torn between doing a full restoration or trying to salvage the car’s originality.

This 1960 Fiat 500 Jolly runabout sold for $75,000 at the RM Amelia Island
auction. (Phil Skinner photo)

Other items of interest included a coral-colored, Ghia-bodied, surrey-topped 1960 Fiat Jolly runabout that probably set a new record when it was declared sold at $75,000. Also offered were several early “alternative fuel” vehicles including a 1901 Toledo steam runabout that sold for $87,000, and a 1906 Pope-Waverly electric Victoria phaeton, selling for $70,000. There were a few relative bargains if you consider $495,000 for a prototype 1908 Oldsmobile Limited roadster a bargain.

A trio of Duesenbergs were also sold, with top dollar here going to a one-off 1933 Model J Rollston Torpedo Victoria that found a new home for $890,000.

For RM Auctions, this was another successful sale, and proof that the collector-car hobby is remaining strong, at least for the premium vehicles that are being offered on the block.

RM AMELIA ISLAND
Amelia Island, Fla., 3-12-2011
Phil Skinner reporting

Vehicles listed were declared sold.
Reportedly, 103 were offered.

Year/Make/Model Price/Condition

1956 AC Ace/Bristol 2d Rds, LHD, WW $13,500 2
1930 Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Zagato Spider 2d Rds $90,000 2
1951 Allard K2 2d Rds, Olds 303-cid, Merc 3-Spd $110,000 2
1959 Aston Martin DB Mk III 2d Sed, LHD $135,000 3
1935 Auburn 851 2d BT Spds $375,000 2
1956 Austin-Healey 100M LeMans 2d Rds, factory built $130,000 1

1953 BMW 327/2 Spt Cabriolet 2d Conv $200,000 2
1957 BMW Isetta 300 1d Cpe, S/R $30,000 2
1934 Buick Roadmaster 90 4d Club Sed, SMts, w/built-in trunk $100,000 2
1953 Buick Skylark 2d Conv, WW $92,500 2

1903 Cadillac A 1d Rear-Entry Tonneau $90,000 2
1913 Cadillac 56 2d Cpe, 4P $55,000 2
1930 Cadillac 452 Fleetwood 2d Rds, V-16, R/S, SMts, w/trunk rack $460,000 1
1934 Cadillac 452B Fisher 4d Phae, SMts, w/trunk $160,000 2
2002 Cadillac Northstar Race Car, 24 Hours of LeMans prepped $190,000 3
1955 Chevrolet Corvette 2d Rds, 265-cid, 162-hp, Auto $95,000 1
1957 Chevrolet Corvette 2d Conv, 283-cid, 245-hp, 2x4V, 3-Spd $70,000 2
1967 Chevrolet Corvette 2d Conv, 427-cid, 435-hp, 4-Spd, w/alloy whls & side pipes $110,000 2
1933 Chrysler Imperial C2 LeBaron 4d Phae, SMts, w/trunk $320,000 2
1948 Chrysler T&C 4d Sed $80,000 2
1930 Cord Front Drive L29 4d Conv Sed, WW, SMts $190,000 1

1957 DeSoto Fireflite 2d Conv Mod, 361-cid, Auto, Adventurer replica, sale incl ’58 Duofoil boat $100,000 2
1916 Detroit Electric Brougham 2d Cpe $47,500 2
1957 Dual-Ghia 2d Conv $225,000 2
1925 Duesenberg 8 Speedway Race Car $320,000 2
1930 Duesenberg J Murphy 2d Disappearing Top Conv, R/S, SMts, WW $875,000 1
1930 Duesenberg J 4d Phae Mod, SMts, w/trunk, Pilot Ray lights, repro body in style of LeBaron $330,000 3
1933 Duesenberg J Rollston Torpedo Vic 4d Conv, SMts, Pilot Ray lights $890,000 1

1959 Edsel Corsair 2d Conv, 361-cid, Auto $57,500 2

1952 Ferrari 340 Mexico Vignale 2d Cpe Race Car, RHD $3,900,000 2
1953 Ferrari 212 Inter Vignale 2d Cpe, garage find $600,000 5
1957 Ferrari 250GT Boano 2d Cpe, Borani WW $550,000 2
1962 Ferrari 250GTE Pinin Farina 2d Cpe, Borani WW $110,000 2
1967 Ferrari 330GTS 2d Conv, Borani WW $700,000 1
1968 Ferrari 275GTB/4 Berlinetta 2d Cpe $850,000 1
1969 Ferrari 365GT 2+2 2d Cpe $145,000 1
1975 Ferrari 365GT4 Berlinetta Boxer 2d Cpe $200,000 2
1960 Fiat 500 Jolly Rbt, Ghia bodied $75,000 1
1967 Fiat 600D 2d Cpe $21,000 2
1913 Ford T C-cab Panel $55,000 1
1926 Ford-Frontenac T 2d Rds, cus body $35,000 1
1936 Ford DeL 2d Phae Rod, 289-cid, Auto $32,500 2
1938 Ford DeL 2d Cpe, 221-cid, 85-hp, 3-Spd $55,000 1
1986 Ford Evolution RS200 2d Cpe Race Car, 1 of 24 known to exist $145,000 2
1929 Franklin 135 2d Conv, R/S, SMts, w/trunk $40,000 2

1948 Jaguar Mk IV 2d Drophead Cpe Conv, RHD $125,000 1
1961 Jaguar XK-E I 3.8 2d Conv, w/flat floor & bonnet releases $140,000 1
1965 Jaguar XK-E I 4.2 2d Conv, 9,565 orig miles $110,000 1

1954 Kaiser Darrin KF161 Pocket-Door 2d Conv $160,000 2

1952 Lancia Aurelia B53 Allemano 2d HT Cpe, RHD $90,000 2
1899 Locomobile Steam Rbt $57,500 2
1904 Locomobile Steam Rbt $60,000 2

1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 2d GW Cpe, w/luggage $575,000 2
1961 Mercedes-Benz 300SL 2d Conv, w/luggage $570,000 2
1971 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 2d Conv, Auto $110,000 2
1969 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler 2d FBk, 390-cid, Auto, Dan Gurney Ed $30,000 3
1938 MG-TA Tickford 2d Conv, RHD, WW $102,500 1
1953 MG-TD 2d Rds, w/steel whls $20,000 2
1959 MGA 1600 2d Rds, LHD, w/steel whls $70,000 1
1952 Morgan Plus Four 2d Drophead Cpe Conv, RHD $60,000 2
1964 Morgan Plus Four 2d Drophead Cpe Conv, LHD $60,000 1

1903 Oldsmobile R Curved Dash Rbt $50,000 2
1908 Oldsmobile Limited Rds, prototype $495,000 2

1908 Packard 30 4d Trg, RHD, 7P $150,000 2
1912 Packard 1-48 Rbt, RHD, cus built for Packard’s president $370,000 2
1930 Packard 8 734 2d BT Rds Mod, SMts, repro body $165,000 2
1930 Packard Custom 8 4d Phae, SMts, w/trunk rack & Trippe lights $155,000 1
1930 Packard Sup 8 LeBaron All Weather 4d Conv Sed, SMts, w/trunk $100,000 2
1934 Packard 8 4d DC Phae, SMts $140,000 2
1934 Packard 12 4d Conv Sed, SMts, w/trunk $320,000 1
1936 Packard 8 4d Phae, w/rear spare $130,000 2
1910 Peerless 30HP Brewster Open Drive 2d Landaulet Limo $85,000 2
1938 Peugeot 402 Darl’mat Legere Spl Spt Pourout 2d Conv Rds $475,000 1
1906 Pope-Waverly Electric Rbt $70,000 2
1964 Porsche 911 2d Cpe, 1 of 34 known to exist $205,000 2

1919 Rauch & Lang Double Drive Electric 2d Cpe $50,000 2
1909 Reliable Dayton Electric Surrey $35,000 2
1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost F.R. Wood (NY) 2d Open Drive Landaulet, RHD $460,000 2
1927 Rolls-Royce Phantom I Barker & Co Brougham 4d Limo Twn Car, SMts, w/disc whls & trunk, RHD $90,000 2
1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Imperial Hibbard & Darrin 4d Conv Sed, polished alum hood & cowl, RHD $100,000 2
1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Gurney-Nutting 2d Sedanca Cpe, RHD $310,000 3

1999 Shelby Series 1 2d Conv, #217 $87,500 2
1951 Studebaker 2R5 2d 1/2T PU, LBx $32,500 1

1947 Talbot-Lago T-26 Record 4d Sed, ex-French Consulate-Denver car, S/R, RHD $60,000 4
1954 Talbot-Lago Grand Spt 2d Cpe, RHD $140,000 2
1909 Thomas-Flyer 6-40 2d Trg, 7P, RHD $130,000 1
1901 Toledo Steam Rbt $87,500 2

1958 Vespa Ghia Jolly Runabout $37,500 1
1907 Victor Highwheel Electric Rbt $55,000 2

Miscellaneous

1981 Edmunds “Casey Special” Midget Race Car, ex-Brock Yates Coll $25,000 2
1961 Elder-Crawford Indy 500 Race Car, ex-Brock Yates Coll $165,000 1
1950 Fitch-Whitmore LeMans Spl 2d Race Car $180,000 1
1940 Harley-Davidson U Motorcycle $18,500 2
1949 Harley-Davidson Servicar Motorcycle, ex-police 3-whlr $45,000 1
1950 Harley-Davidson Servicar Motorcycle, 3-whlr $39,000 1
1954 Harley-Davidson FLE Motorcycle, ex-police bike $22,500 2
1915 Indian Big Twin Motorcycle $47,500 2
1954 Kurtis Kraft 500S Rds, ex-Brock Yates Coll $110,000 1
1968 Lola T70 Mk III GT Cpe Race Car $150,000 2

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